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Asia Pacific Politics

Vietnam tree cutting debacle highlights opaque politics

A government program that planned to cut more than 6,700 trees in a bid to ‘beautify’ Hanoi, Vietnam, has been abruptly halted due to significant public backlash. While analysts have heralded this

International Natural resources and energy

Despite Iran deal, price war will dominate 2015 oil markets

Regardless of the final outcome of Iran’s nuclear programme negotiations, the coming months will see a continuing price war between OPEC producers and the shrinking US shale sector. The recent agreement

Europe Natural resources and energy

Limited prospects for EU to diversify natural gas imports

Russia will remain a major supplier of natural gas to the EU as projects to find alternative sources face headwinds from escalating costs and political meddling from Moscow. Whereas Europe

Politics South and Central Asia

Tensions subside in Bangladesh, but is turmoil over?

Bangladesh has been embroiled in a destructive political turmoil for the past three months. Widespread political agitation, sporadic incidents of violence and arson, and breakdown of the societal structure have

Middle East/North Africa Security

Lebanon hanging on despite increasing regional collapse

Lebanon is currently one of the few stable countries in the Middle East, but this stability remains fraught. Its fate is still influenced, although not dictated, by external powers and

Economics Latin America

Can a charter city make Honduras prosperous?

Investors around the world follow Honduras leading a new Charter City project. Yet, citizen discontent threatens the project with political instability. The second poorest country in Central America, Honduras faces

Economics South and Central Asia

Uzbekistan’s electoral stability creates investment opportunities

The re-election of President Karimov for a 4th term spells continuation of rampant corruption, while Karimov is forced to reduce dependency on a Russia in crisis. However, the entailed political stability

Latin America Natural resources and energy

Uruguay to provide port space for landlocked Bolivia

Uruguay has signed an agreement with the Bolivian President Evo Morales to provide the landlocked Bolivia an outlet to the sea. The project will allow the country to access the Atlantic

Asia Pacific Politics

Obama’s Pivot to Asia fails to impress China

The Pivot to Asia, America’s new grand strategy announced in 2011, rebalanced America’s focus towards the Asia-Pacific region. Less than four years later, the launch of the Asian Infrastructure Investment

Asia Pacific Politics

Lee Kuan Yew’s passing offers Singapore unexpected lessons

The passing of longtime ruler and modernizer Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) in Singapore has raised questions about the future of the prosperous micro-nation. While some worry about the country’s prospects